AN elderly man is alleged to have bashed his female neighbour with a garden hose nozzle after she turned the hose on him.

The woman, 63, was watering her Cleveland Terrace backyard when her neighbour came up from behind and grabbed her around the head and shoulders on Sunday morning, prompting her to wet him with the hose.

The 70-year-old man allegedly grabbed the hose and saturated the woman before repeatedly hitting her with the hose nozzle.

Townsville Police officer-in-charge Acting Senior Sergeant Sean Wilson said a person inside the victim's house called police after seeing the incident.

"Neighbourhood disputes can escalate over small things and that's probably what happened on this occasion," Acting Sen-Sgt Wilson said.

"The victim has turned a hose on the alleged suspect in the process of defending herself and he has grabbed the hose from the victim and wet the victim through all her clothes."

Police said they had been called to the address previously after reports of intimidation.

The neighbours are believed to have a long-running dispute over boundary lines.

Residents of the picturesque street that has sweeping views of the Coral Sea and Magnetic Island said they were unaware of any neighbourhood dispute and were shocked to hear of the incident.

The man was charged with serious assault of a person over 60 years of age and will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on February 6.

It is the latest incident in a spate of neighbourhood disputes turning violent in Townsville.

Earlier this month, a man allegedly threatened to kill his neighbour and her daughter at Vincent after the 12-year-old daughter gave him the finger.

Last April, a man was caught on film throwing rocks at his neighbour while he mowed the lawn.

In March, a man was punched in the face and ribs at his Ayr unit by a neighbour while helping his partner during an epileptic fit.

A Queensland Dispute Resolution spokesman said residents should try and sort out disputes early before they escalate to physical threats.

"Face-to-face contact is better than letters and messages and a good deal better than banging on walls, throwing things, or complaining about it to everyone else," he said.

"Avoid name calling; it only makes it harder for the person to hear what you are saying. Work out what you both have to do to resolve the problem."

Townsville Community Crime Prevention officer Brad Taylor said residents confronted with a disgruntled neighbour should try and diffuse the situation to avoid becoming a victim of assault.

"Every situation is different but the best advice if you are being confronted by a neighbour is to go inside and call police," he said.

"Don't confront them, as it could ­escalate.

"The best thing to do is remove yourself from the situation.

"People can also go to the North Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre."

For more information on neighbourhood dispute resolution, call the North Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre on 4760 9850.